A COMMUNITY choir will be celebrating its 25th anniversary with a concert in memory of its founder.

The Hanley Singers were formed in 1992 by Alan Johnston, who was then the newly-appointed head of Hanley Castle High School.

Mr Johnson, himself a musician, created the choir to add to the school’s rapidly-growing musical tradition.

Supported by the school's head of music, Dominic Hawley, Mr Johnson established a community choir and orchestra made up of parents, students, staff and friends.

Since then the choir, soon rechristened Hanley Voices, has gone from strength to strength. Fine performances and a succession of notable musical directors followed, from Mr Hawley to the current conductor, Ben Sawyer.

Now the choir is resolved to provide an anniversary programme worthy of Mr Johnston’s memory, with the first event of the year being a 25th anniversary concert at Upton church on April 8.

David Fawbert, the choir spokesman, said: "Alan was especially fond of jazz and for that reason Ben Sawyer has chosen Will Todd’s jazz setting of Mass in Blue as its major feature. the Mass, with special guest soloist Joanna Forbes L’Estrange and Alexander L’Estrange’s Call Me Al Trio will be accompanied by Hanley Voices’ favourites over 25 years."

The concert will be followed on May 17 by an anniversary dinner that will offer current and former choir members an opportunity to get together and walk down memory lane.

Mr Fawbert said: "Over the period countless singers have taken part, indeed some there at the outset are still going strong. One massive aim of the 25th anniversary year is to invite friends and former singers to contact Hanley Voices and share their memories and memorabilia. Please get in touch. All you need is on hanleyvoices.org."

Mr Sawyer said: "As director of Hanley Voices, I am constantly delighted by the way in which the choir continually steps up to the choral challenges I put before them. This reached a new height in May 2016 when the choir won the second Upton Choir Festival."